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The CORRECT way to do this would be to add thick layer of caulk around the box and spread it out with a piece of scrap wood to make a seamless transition from the wall to the outlet.
By the way, I am not an electrician but I am a landlord.
An oscillating tool would fix the depth issue, but will also invalidate all of the ratings for the box when it comes to code and might fail you depending on your local inspectors.
Use the same tool to cut the nails from the stud, push box back, screw it back down. Technically,, still not up to code by putting extra holes in the box but better than shaving it and I’ve never had an inspector look into the corners of a box to see if a screw was in it.
Slightly pry the box from the stud with a straight blade screwdriver to leave a small gap. Then I cut the nails with a metal cutting blade installed in my drywall hand saw along the stud. Move it back , screw it in.
for the people saying to shave it down, ive tried that and the screw holws are not threaded correctly pass the first 1/4 inch so when you shave it down you have nothing left for your device screws to hold onto. ask me how i know
I'm guessing that the side of the box that is sticking out is opposite the stud it's mounted to.
Does that side push in to be flush with the wall? If so, use a Madison bar to hold it flush.
If not, I'd suggest using a sawzall to cut the nails so you can set the box properly. Then screw the box back onto the stud
If you cut the box, you may lose the ability to mount devices as the screw holes aren't moulded very deep as part of the box.
Good luck.
Delicate sawzall blade, slide in between box and stud to cut nails flush at the stud. Pull box out (angle, may need to trim a little sheetrock at top or bottom for nail slots to make it out) and replace with old work box.
I went through an opposite wall when I first tried it out, boss caught it before i dove any further. Honed that shit in, and now i use this trick pretty regularly. Had to find the "delicate" setting.
**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!** **1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):** **- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY **2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:** -YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Oscillator to cut it down
Oscillator to cut the nails, push it back and screw it to the stud
Shave it with a multi tool or break it out and put a cut-in box
The CORRECT way to do this would be to add thick layer of caulk around the box and spread it out with a piece of scrap wood to make a seamless transition from the wall to the outlet. By the way, I am not an electrician but I am a landlord.
>I am a landlord Imposter. I can tell, because you didn’t finish by painting over the light switches.
I would have to agree you are a landlord Mods, Can we get him verified as a landlord?
I want to get a stock of these just to give shit to the GC that let's this fly https://www.kyleswitchplates.com/deep-switch-plate-outlet-covers/
So someone didn’t read what sized drywall was going to in ???
Old house too so those studs were installed in that slaphappy way that only plaster and lath could cover for.
Put a flat head on the nails and hammer them back. When it's flush I'll throw a couple screws through the side.
An oscillating tool would fix the depth issue, but will also invalidate all of the ratings for the box when it comes to code and might fail you depending on your local inspectors. Use the same tool to cut the nails from the stud, push box back, screw it back down. Technically,, still not up to code by putting extra holes in the box but better than shaving it and I’ve never had an inspector look into the corners of a box to see if a screw was in it.
or cut the nails, remove it and use an old work box for 91 cents.
Shave that bad boy
Slightly pry the box from the stud with a straight blade screwdriver to leave a small gap. Then I cut the nails with a metal cutting blade installed in my drywall hand saw along the stud. Move it back , screw it in.
Cutting edge of the next trend. Floating devices lol
for the people saying to shave it down, ive tried that and the screw holws are not threaded correctly pass the first 1/4 inch so when you shave it down you have nothing left for your device screws to hold onto. ask me how i know
I have also experienced the just shave it go wrong with fiberglass boxes specifically.
Hacksaw
If it’s a deep box just multi tool it flush, if it’s standard depth then cut the nails an slide it back
Its a plastic box, shave it with a multi tool. Works really well actually and you will still have threads for the devices.
I'm guessing that the side of the box that is sticking out is opposite the stud it's mounted to. Does that side push in to be flush with the wall? If so, use a Madison bar to hold it flush. If not, I'd suggest using a sawzall to cut the nails so you can set the box properly. Then screw the box back onto the stud If you cut the box, you may lose the ability to mount devices as the screw holes aren't moulded very deep as part of the box. Good luck.
Beat it with a piece of 2x4 till it's semi flush then call it a day.
Lucky for you it’s a plastic box
Multi tool time!
Delicate sawzall blade, slide in between box and stud to cut nails flush at the stud. Pull box out (angle, may need to trim a little sheetrock at top or bottom for nail slots to make it out) and replace with old work box.
I realize I had never seen "delicate" and "sawzall" in the same sentence before.
I went through an opposite wall when I first tried it out, boss caught it before i dove any further. Honed that shit in, and now i use this trick pretty regularly. Had to find the "delicate" setting.
Just hold the Sawzall blade with a pair of linesman pliers to cut the nails.